Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Thailand (Ratification: 1969)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Thailand (Ratification: 2018)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. 1. Law enforcement and penalties. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the amendments made to the Anti-Trafficking Act No. 2 B.E. 2558 of 2015 with regard to the increase in the penalties for the offences related to trafficking in persons. The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the number of cases of trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation detected and investigated by the competent authorities as well as the penalties applied.

The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government in its report on the prosecutions carried out for the offences related to trafficking of persons. According to this data, in 2017, 302 cases were prosecuted, of which 255 cases concerned trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation, 26 for begging, 14 for labour exploitation and seven for labour exploitation in the fishery industry. In 2018, 304 cases were prosecuted, including 258 cases for commercial sexual exploitation, 29 cases for labour exploitation, eight cases for begging and six cases for labour exploitation in the fishery sector. Moreover, in 2018, the Anti Human Trafficking Division of the Office of the Attorney General received 357 cases with prosecution orders, including 286 cases of sexual exploitation, 57 cases of forced labour or services and 14 cases of begging. In 2019, prison sentences ranging from one year to over ten years were handed down to 236 offenders. The Government indicates that the offenders sentenced to imprisonment for ten years and above increased by 17.79 per cent in comparison to 2017. The Committee encourages the Government to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure that the Anti-Trafficking Act, as amended, is effectively implemented and to continue to provide information on the number of cases of trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation that have been detected and investigated by the competent authorities as well as the penalties applied.

2. Protection and reintegration of victims of trafficking in persons. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted the various measures taken by the Government on providing assistance to victims of trafficking and on the number of victims who benefited from such measures. The Committee requested the Government to continue to provide statistical data in this regard.

The Committee notes the Government’s information on the protection and assistance activities undertaken by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) for the victims of Trafficking. Accordingly, in 2018, 401 victims received protection in government shelters, an increase from 360 victims in 2017. Some of these victims were provided opportunities to earn income from employment inside shelters (290 victims) and from employment outside shelters (65 victims). Moreover, “Relationships building Camps” were conducted for victims of trafficking in government shelters to increase their community living skills. The MSDHS prepared victim statement impact reports for the court to determine the amount of compensation from offenders, and preventing victims from repeating the traumatic and psychological injuries suffered by them during the legal procedure. Moreover, subsidies were provided to victims of trafficking from the Anti-Trafficking Fund. According to the Government’s information in 2018, 6.15 million Thai baht (THB) was disbursed towards subsidies and remedies for victims of trafficking and in 2019, 116 injured persons received a total of THB77.56 million as damage compensation from offenders.

The Government further indicates that over 711 government officials and non-government officials received Victims Specialist Training to improve their knowledge and technical skills on victim protection and assistance. Interpreters were provided training and certification on protection and welfare of victims of trafficking by MSDHS. Currently, 251 interpreters are registered as qualified interpreters for victims of trafficking. In addition, a handbook on Trafficking in Persons’ Victims’ Rights which was translated into seven languages and a handbook for the repatriation and systematic reintegration into society of victims of trafficking was developed by the MSDHS. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure appropriate protection, assistance and reintegration measures to all victims of trafficking. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide statistical data on the number of victims identified, as well as those who have benefited from assistance.